Filipinos want ‘defective’ e-passports investigated

A number of expatriate Filipino workers have expressed concern over the issuance of an estimated 10,000 e-passports that were reported to have defects.
The Philippine Department Foreign Affairs (DFA) issued a statement last week attributing the defect in the e-passports to a machine “hiccup”, which is causing the covers where the electronic chip is placed to be detached. The electronic chip contains the biometric data of the owner. Recipients of the defective e-passports expressed their dismay about the situation, which they said would disrupt their travel plans and force them to undergo the bureaucratic hassle of visiting DFA offices to rectify the problem.
In Riyadh, the migrants’ rights group, Migrante-Middle East (M-ME) called on the government through its Foreign Affairs Department to conduct an investigation into the matter.
“It would be prudent on the part of the DFA to conduct an investigation over these substandard passports so that the incident will not be repeated. Filipinos deserve quality service,” said John Leonard Monterona, M-ME regional coordinator.
Monterona, who is now based in Riyadh, issued the statement in reaction to the announcement made by DFA spokesperson Charles Jose in which he said the DFA does not plan on undertaking an investigation into the matter.
“If the materials and machines used in passport production pass through stringent and rigorous procurement system, why were defective e-passports issued? It boils down to an issue of quality service,” Monterona added.
Monterona said that in Saudi Arabia for instance, that e-passport renewal costs around SR240, which is roughly equivalent to Php. 2,760.
He also suggested that the government procurement system must be reviewed and international quality standards be adopted.